School district to request $275 million bond issue

Members of the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Board of Education have approved a $275 million bond request for the March 10 ballot next year. 
Superintendent of Schools Monica Merritt stressed that the bond, if approved by voters, would not require any increase to the current district millage rate of 4.02 mills.
The bond proposal was approved following 12 months of research and input from district officials, members of the community and professional consultants and includes projects to be completed in all school buildings during the next 10 years.

Executive Director of Student Services Kurt Tyszkiewicz said the proposed repairs and renovations would ensure that students are “warm, dry and safe then they enter our buildings.
Tyszkiewicz said the bond would help refresh the district technology by adding an innovation hub that would cater to students interested in artificial intelligence, virtual reality and other classes that will be “essential during the next 10 years or so.” 
Merritt said the bond approval would allow the district to fund enhancements to each of the 24 district school buildings and bring equity to the facilities. She said the bond improvements would help make the district competitive and keep students from switching to charter or out-of-district schools.
Only board trustee John Lazarowicz voted against the proposal which met with enthusiasm from the remainder of the board members.
In encouraging the board to approve the proposed millage, Merritt stressed the need to maintain the strong reputation of the Plymouth-Canton district.
“When you think about the strengths of a community, we always say the cornerstone is a strong school system,” she said. “There are few opportunities we have to finance these much needed projects and this bond is one opportunity to do so. It's a responsible way for us to remain competitive and to give our students what they need and deserve in order to succeed.”
The district last requested a bond in 2013 which was approved by a wide margin of voters.